gulls (1 Viewer)

[lou salomon]

hi tib,

got to be a slightly unusual michahellis. without grey median covert bar, no p10 tongue abd retarded bare parts. but pattern and whitish appearance on body and head is very like mich.

best,

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Caspian Gull in Herastrau Park, March 15th 2013

 

[Tib78]

hi tib,

got to be a slightly unusual michahellis. without grey median covert bar, no p10 tongue abd retarded bare parts. but pattern and whitish appearance on body and head is very like mich.

best,

Thanks for that Lou. I guess it's not a difficult bird for you .

A slightly retarded 2nd winter michahellis. That's what I suspected, but I thought I'd double-check. I am really not confident when it comes to immature gulls.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Fundulea (CL), April 14th 2013

 

[Archie Opteryx]

I've posted a link in the ringing section but as a fair few larophiles hang out here, thought I might cross-post - an uncoded colour ring on Herring Gull?

Cheers!

 

[lou salomon]

Fundulea (CL), April 14th 2013

the 2nd is astonishing difficult but might as well be a cachinnans - like the other two.
1. a 2cy male
2. a 5cy (is that dirt on its tail or are they really retained blackish marks?), also male
3. 3rd or 4th cycle (4cy or 5cy) cachi.

 

[Tsingy]

http://dogalhayat.org/property/van-golu-martisi-olabilir-mi/#prettyPhoto

Hi Everyone, I want to get your opinion about this gull. Thanks for now.

 

[lou salomon]

head and bill shape, covert and tail pattern all fit the local, default larus armenicus (a 1st cycle).

 

[Tsingy]

Thanks Lou.

 

[Qingcol]

First of all let me apologise for the poor image quality, nevertheless this Gull struck me as being very different from the accompanying Herring Gulls (Today Cornwall) Smaller like Common Gull, flat belly and elongated hindparts, rounder head, dark eyes, shorter stubbier extremely bright yellow bill, almost clean under-wing. Can anyone see features that would rule out small female ‘argenteus’ or suggest ‘armenicus’?
Colin

 

[lou salomon]

it's `just` a well-developed (bright bill and nice grey saddle) "2nd summer" (3cy) argenteus herring gull, colin, a small female recalling common gull in head shape - surely not an armenian which e.g. would have different wing pattern (more grey coverts) and bright yellow legs now: http://www.gull-research.org/armenicus/3cy/3cyapr05.html

 

[Qingcol]

it's `just` a well-developed (bright bill and nice grey saddle) "2nd summer" (3cy) argenteus herring gull, colin, a small female recalling common gull in head shape - surely not an armenian which e.g. would have different wing pattern (more grey coverts) and bright yellow legs now: http://www.gull-research.org/armenicus/3cy/3cyapr05.html

Many thanks Lou, I just don't appear to see them with dark eyes.
Colin

 

[Tsingy]

From today, Samsun-TURKEY. I want to ask your opinions. Thanks.

 

[lou salomon]

that's a tough one, tsingy, a very advanced 2cy, most probably michahellis (pale irides in 1st summer are a strong indication as are the rel. coarse patterned coverts but many things also remind of eastern ("cachoid") taxons...scpulars with many 3rd gen. grey feathers.

 

[davpen]

West Yorkshire, England, today, 12th June.

A very worn 2cy Herring Gull? Or possibly michahellis?

Cheers,

David

 

[lou salomon]

hi dave,

i don't see a michahellis here but structural some similarities with caspian gull: bill, longish wings, shaft streak pattern on scaps and belly line have some similarities with cachinnans and there might be such dark patterned individuals. still it should be at least a hybrid if not a pure herring gull, mimicking caspian. not quite easy at this time of year o
the combination of features (like pale iris and dark underwing with a lanky body) might be best for tatus x cachi but sure nobody can be sure of that. i know enough people who would call this an ordinary bleached herring gull

 

[davpen]

Thanks Lou. To be honest, Caspian was my first thought, and that was the reason why I set up my scope for a better look. I ended up being put off the idea by the fairly pale iris, sturdy-looking legs, and well-marked underwing. Nice to know that others think it's a hard one too though.

Dave

 

[davpen]

Same time and place as the previous pic.

3cy michahellis? I think it had moulted P5.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[lou salomon]

hm, that orbital is red. i would have liked to see a whole wing of this bird 'cause looking at the bleached coverts there's no visible renewed adult type grey feather which would be typical for micha, esp. the median covert row; wing coverts look very like in herring gull at this age...
i don't know what to do with that red orbital since i think it is really rare among western herring gulls (does it occure at all? - baltic HG can well show it). 2nd gen. tertials appear to have full dark centers, double pale margin seems to be worn away but this occures in HG also. upper TT replaced for 3rd gen. ones.
now, if it is a michahellis, it is a very retarded one, in terms of covert replacement. didn't it stand up at all? normally legs should be yellow now in YLG
head looks like the one of a micha indeed (squarish, strong gonys to bill).
can't ID it by this pic only but certainly has something YLG-ish, esp. red orbital.

 

[davpen]

Hi Lou. Yes, it did stand up, and the legs were dull yellowish as shown, merging into pink on the feet.

Actually, I kept having concerns that it might be a very pale graellsii (we get them sometimes). I take it that idea can be ruled out(?).

Dave